Time is the movement of thought

“The past, present, and future are all properties of consciousness. The past is recollection, memory; future is anticipation; the present is awareness. Therefore time is the movement of thought. Both past and future are born in the imagination; only the present, which is awareness, is real and eternal. It is. It is the potentiality for space-time, matter, and energy. It is an eternal field of possibilities experiencing itself as object forces whether they be light, heat, electricity, magnetism, or gravity. These forces are neither in the past nor in the future. They just are.” – Deepak Chopra, The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success

I’ve been reading this quote over and over, trying to wrap my head around the magnitude of insight that it invokes.

‘Time is the movement of thought.’ Or, our movement of thought is our sense of time. If I think more, will I have more time? No, I would only increase my awareness of time passing, creating the opposite experience of the intended result.

This I know: the sense of time is a source of anxiety because all “problems” exist in the past or in the future. The imagination loves to wallow about the past and be restless about the future. So we meditate to still the movement of thought, experience presence, and ultimately develop a deep understanding that problems are not real, only imagined.

By the means of meditation, if I don’t think at all, time will not exist.

***

‘[Awareness] is an eternal field of possibilities experiencing itself as object forces whether they be light, heat, electricity, magnetism, or gravity.’

By having present awareness, we experience ourselves as a natural force in the universe. Just like the planets rotate effortlessly around the sun, humans have an abundance of pure potential to manifest our true nature. And the beautiful thing is that every human spirit has dharma, or their unique cosmic purpose to fulfill. You don’t need to think about what it is and you don’t need to try; just like a flower does not try to grow, you will simply blossom.

Through setting an intention as we do in yoga, you have the opportunity to manifest all your hopes, dreams, and desires for the future- you can choose your destiny, or what will be your own personal legend! What’s important though, is to be be completely present, unattached to the future (even your intention) and nonresistant to the past. You must be the life force that works effortlessly and in complete harmony with the universe.

***

In sanskrit, the word for life force is prana, andpranayama are what we call exercises to control the breath. It’s amazing how vital breath is to our existence, and yet so often we forget how to do it!

Just like the wind moves all around us, it moves in and out of the body.

Breathe, and be life force. Be life force and manifest your desired reality.